Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the 31st annual Granny Smith Festival in Sydney’s suburb of Ryde on October 15, 2016. Drawing more than 90,000 spectators, it’s is the largest annual event of its type. Practitioners have participated in this festival since 2000.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), a state-owned national public broadcaster, has listed the Falun Dafa waist drum team on its web page to promote the community festival.

The Tian Guo Marching Band, waist drum team, and a float with practitioners demonstrating the exercises were once again a highlight of the program.

Jane Stott, deputy mayor of Ryde, said, “This band is unique. From their uniforms to their music, everything is excellent.” On the city’s web page, a picture of the band’s performance was used to publicize this event.

Jane Stott (deputy mayor of Ryde, fourth from left in the front row), John Alexander (Member of the Australian Parliament, first from left in the front row) and many government officials who came to the event had high praise for the Falun Dafa group.

Melody, who has been attending the parade for 10 years, said of the Tian Guo band, “The colors are great and the music is wonderful.This is the best thing I have ever seen.”

Melody (right).

John Alexander, Member of the Australian Parliament, agreed. He has received requests from practitioners urging the Australian government to take action to stop the ongoing suppression of Falun Gong in China. He said it is a severe human rights violation and what the Australian government has done so far is not enough.

Spectators wave to practitioners on the float.

Lisa Clarke from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation International wrote an article on this event, which included photos of the Tian Guo Marching Band, waist drum team, and the float. The report was carried by several other news media outlets, including Republika, a national daily newspaper in Indonesia.